An Oldies but a Goodie: The Luis Excelsior Band from 1984

Back in 1984, Felix's band was Felix and the Havanas, which played at the Lone Star. When that gig ended each night, some of the members woud also play at Dan Lynch's under the name the Luis Excelsior Band, so the Lone Star wouldn't find out that essentially the same band was playing elsewhere nearby.

Standing: Arthur Neilson, Bill Schroeder, Bobby Day, Felix. Kneeling: Dave French

"Horn From the Heart" Paul Butterfield documentary

If you're a fan of Felix, you're most likely also a fan of the great Paul Butterfield. There's a new documentary about Paul called "Horn From the Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story" that must be seen. The film documents Butterfield's entire career from his start in the Chicago clubs in the early sixties until his untimely death in 1987 at the age of only 44. While the Butterfield Blues Band came along slightly too early for most FM progressive rock radio and the band never had a top-40 hit (they were too good for that), Butterfield's influence is felt by musicians to this day. We were quite happy when the Paul Butterfield Blues Band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.

Click on the image for more information

And here's the New York Times review.

Felix plays with Jimmy Vivino & the Eastcoast Bluesoul Rockers

Felix got together again with Jimmy Vivino at the Boulton Center in Bayshore, New York on June 30, 2018 (Click the image for more photos. Video just added!)

The Felix Cabrera Band at the Polish Hall: March 25, 2017

Felix and the band played again at the Polish Hall in Port Washington, NY on February 24, 2018 with another great set of music. (Click the image for more photos. Video added 3/7/18)

The Felix Cabrera Band at the Polish Hall: March 25, 2017

Felix and band played the Polish Hall in Port Washington, NY with a great set of blues and rock. (Click the image for more photos and video.)

The Felix Cabrera Band at the Metropolitan Room: March 5, 2017

Felix returned to the Metropolitan Room on March 5, 2017 playing a killer set of blues and rock. (Click the image for more photos and a video.)

The Felix Cabrera Band at the Metropolitan Room: October 9, 2016

Here's Felix again at the Metropolitan Room in NYC on October 9, 2016. (Click the image for more photos and a video).

The Felix Cabrera Band

Here's Felix with his own band playing the Metropolitan Room in NYC on February 28, 2016. (Click the image for more photos and a video).

Felix Cabrera at the Long Island Blues Warehouse

Here's a great hour of Felix Cabrera and band at the Long Island Blues Warehouse that was put together by EKO Productions. In addition to the great performances, there's an interview with Felix and other members of the band by Mark Klein.

Felix Cabrera with the Ed Palermo Big Band

Felix playing the music of Paul Butterfield and Mike Bloomfield with the Ed Palermo Big Band at the Blues & BBQ Festival at Pier 26 in NYC on August 22, 2015. (Click the image for more photos).

The Felix Cabrera Band Live November, 2014

Here's ten minutes of audio of a live performance at the Bitter End from November of 2014 accompanied by a bunch of still photos.

Legends TV Show

Felix appearing on Evan Ginzburg's "Legends" show. The music starts at 31:41.

An Oldie but a Goodie!

Here's "Felix and the Internationals" playling live at The Jetty in Bloomfield (how appropriate), NJ in 1982.

The band features Felix, Alan Carriero on violin and mandola, Guy Amato on guitar, Ritt Henn on Bass and Bill Schroeder on Drums

Felix Cabrera with Gabe Butterfield

Felix playing the music of Paul Butterfield with Paul's son Gabriel at the Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock, NY on May 31, 2015. (Click the image for more photos).

Felix portrait

Here's a great 2012 image of Felix taken by photographer Nelson G. Onofre

The Black Italians on Conan

Jimmy Vivino & the Black Italians appeared on the Conan show on January 28th, 2014 with Felix playing blues harp. From our friends at Blind Pig Records: "Jimmy Vivino and the Black Italians put on a spirited, soulful performance of Bob Dylan's “Maggie's Farm” during their appearance on Conan this week. The band's unique version of the song is featured on their recent Blind Pig release entitled 13 Live. The Black Italians lineup on the TV show included outstanding vocalist Catherine Russell, harmonica great Felix Cabrera, and special guest guitarist Leo Nocentelli of The Meters."

Prior to the broadcast, in a nod to Nocentelli's Louisiana background, the band also performed “Fire On The Bayou” (a track which does not appear on the CD), with some first-rate guitar playing by Leo and Jimmy. Click the link below to watch this great video exclusive from Team Coco.

The Black Italians page at Blind Pig Records

We think this reviewer is the genius

“...and the genius Felix Cabrera on harmonica. Felix has a great feel for the harmonica, and really classes up the joint wherever he plays...”

Rex Bartholomew
rexbass.blogspot.com

Felix guests with the Prisoners of 2nd Avenue

The Prisoners of 2nd Avenue, the Fillmore-era tribute band featuring Jimmy Vivino, Rich Pagano and John Conte, got together at B.B. King's on November 30, 2013. Felix guested with the band. Pictures at the link.

Jimmy Vivino joins Felix on CD

Jimmy Vivino is featured on Felix Cabrera's CD, "Live at the Turning Point". This CD was recorded at the Turning Point Cafe in Piermont, New York on June 1, 2007 and features ten great live tracks. Playing with Jimmy and Felix is Eddy Bishai, Phil Butler and Bill Schroeder.

"A powerhouse set of tunes...a great sounding stack of music."

Dick Wissbaum, Big City Rhythm & Blues magazine (Dec '09)

Click the image to order either the CD or a download.
Click to Order

The Black Italians Record a Live Album

Jimmy Vivino & the Black Italians with Felix got together for the first time in several years to record a live album at Levon Helm Studios for Blind Pig Records. Everyone played great -- this album is killer and was released in May of 2013 to much critical acclaim.

Click on the image above for photos from the show.

Click on the image above for a REVIEW and VIDEOS from the show.

Jimmy Vivino joins Felix again in Port Washington, NY

Felix Cabrera was joined by Jimmy Vivino at the Port Washington Polish Hall on Friday, March 23, 2012.
A great night of blues, r&b, jump and good old rock & roll.

Click the photo to see more

Felix & Jimmy video from March, 2012 at The Turning Point (Updated 4/21 w/ a better version)

Here's a great YouTube video from DubyBros featuring a montage of songs from this show. It's Jimmy, Felix, Mel Davis on keys with Phil Butler and Bill Schroeder. This one has pretty good sound and is nicely done, so it's worth a view/listen.

More on the Archive page.

Jimmy Vivino joins Felix in Port Washington, NY

Felix Cabrera was joined by Jimmy Vivino at the Port Washington Polish Hall on Friday, December 2, 2011.
We were back in the 1950s and early 1960s and the joint was jumpin'! Great place if only because there's a dance floor.

Click the photo to see more

More videos on the Archive page.

Jimmy Vivino plays with Felix

Jimmy Vivino came to New York on March 25th to play a killer set with Felix Cabrera at the beautiful Port Washington Public Library.

Click on the photo to see more great images from this reference show in how to play the blues.

Twitter

Here's an experiment to see which Twitter feeds we can pick up about Felix and the Blues.

Tweets about #paulbutterfield OR #jimmyreed OR #felixcabrera OR #bluesharmonica OR #littlewalter

Press & Bookers: Felix's Electronic Press Kit

Here's Felix's electronic press kit

Click the photo to download the EPK